Driver Hire launches nationwide ‘green driving’ initiative
- Press Release 24 October 2008
Potential savings of up to £8M per year in fuel costs. That’s what transport and logistics specialist recruiter, Driver Hire, is promising customers following the launch of its major ‘green driving’ initiative. It’s designed to deliver fuel efficiency savings of 10% for the national network’s customer base of transport operators and fleet managers.
The programme will see every one of Driver Hire’s drivers specially trained in fuel-efficient driving techniques. With refresher courses every six months to ensure the training stays top of mind, they will be offering customers the most fuel efficient agency drivers in the UK.
With over 100 offices nationwide, Driver Hire is the market leader, providing an average of 20,000 temporary staff shifts per week to UK industry and the public sector. Customers include international hauliers, major supermarket groups, builders’ merchants and multi-drop delivery companies.
Driver Hire’s Chief Executive, Chris Chidley, comments: “A year ago, the average annual fuel cost for one category C+E vehicle was around £36,000. That figure peaked recently at nearer £49,000. With that in mind, we’re aiming to help our customers make significant savings on their fuel bill.
“Based on figures from the Department for Transport, if a company could achieve a 10% improvement in fuel efficiency across a fleet of just ten category C+E vehicles travelling an average of 80,000 miles per year, they could save over £45,000.
“Each week we provide an average of 20,000 full-day shifts for our customers,” continues Chris. “These shifts include a wide range of vehicle types and routes, but a reasonable average mileage for each of those shifts is 200, with an average fuel consumption per vehicle of 12mpg. That means our customers are spending £1.5M on fuel for vehicles driven by Driver Hire drivers. If these drivers can achieve the 10% improvement in fuel economy that Government figures suggest is possible, we could save our customers £7.8M in fuel costs per annum.”
“The techniques we’re teaching our drivers have a wider cost-saving effect. For example, they will save wear and tear on customers’ vehicles, which reduces service costs and increases the life of the vehicle. In the current economic climate, anything that contributes to a company’s bottom line has to be crucial.
“Fuel and oil accounts for some 34% of the total cost of running a commercial vehicle. Advances in new vehicle technology are helping, However if you want to achieve maximum benefit – in terms of fuel economy and for the environment –a fuel-efficient driver is essential. That’s exactly what we are aiming to provide, and we believe the training we are now offering is unique in our industry.”
Driver Hire’s nationwide fuel-efficient driver training programme covers:
• Defensive driving techniques, focusing on awareness, anticipation, control and planning.
• Efficient use of speed, braking, gear and clutch control.
• Measuring and managing fuel consumption
• Daily vehicle checks, including vehicle body, tyres, fuel tank, wheel alignment and load positioning and security
“Our programme is all about changing driver behaviour,” says Richard Armitage, Driver Hire’s Head of Training. “The course deals with some big issues. At the same time we’ve included some simple tips that can also add up to big savings.
For example, when parking your vehicle try to make sure it can be driven away on the next shift with no need to manoeuvre. Slow-speed manoeuvring, especially with a cold engine, is a heavy user of fuel. Filling up at the end of the day, rather than the beginning is also a great idea. It avoids queuing for the pumps with a cold, idling engine burning away fuel while you wait.”